About this stotra
The Sri Kartikeya Karavalamba Stotram is a devotional hymn seeking the protective hand of Lord Kartikeya, the divine warrior son of Shiva and Parvati. Each verse concludes with the heartfelt refrain Śrī Kārtikeya mama dēhi karāvalambam — "O Kartikeya, extend to me the support of your hand" — expressing complete surrender to the deity's grace.
The stotram addresses Kartikeya through his many beloved epithets: Vēla (bearer of the divine spear), Guha (the hidden one), commander of the celestial armies, rider of the peacock, and son of the moon-crested Shiva. It celebrates him as the destroyer of afflictions, the embodiment of wisdom, protector of the helpless, and an ocean of compassion who grants fearlessness to those in distress.
Devotees recite this hymn when facing difficulties or seeking divine intervention, trusting that Kartikeya's outstretched hand will lift them from suffering and guide them toward liberation.
Sri Kartikeya Karavalamba Stotram lyrics and meaning
॥ १ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 1
सिङ्गार वेल सकलेश्वर दीनबन्धो ।
सन्तापनाशन सनातन शक्तिहस्त
श्रीकार्तिकेय मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 1
siṅgāra vēla sakalēśvara dīnabandhō ।
santāpanāśana sanātana śaktihasta
śrīkārtikēya mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥ 1
O auspicious Vēla (divine spear), O lord of all (sakalēśvara), O friend of the helpless (dīnabandhu), O destroyer of all afflictions (santāpanāśana), O eternal one (sanātana), O holder of the Śakti (śaktihasta) — O Śrī Kārtikeya, give me the support of your hand (mama dēhi karāvalambam)!
॥ २ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 2
पञ्चाद्रिवास सहजा सुरसैन्यनाथ
पञ्चामृतप्रिय गुह सकलाधिवास ।
गङ्गेन्दु मौलि तनय मयिल्वाहनस्थ
श्रीकार्तिकेय मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 2
pañchādrivāsa sahajā surasainyanātha
pañchāmṛtapriya guha sakalādhivāsa ।
gaṅgēndu mauḻi tanaya mayilvāhanastha
śrīkārtikēya mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥ 2
O dweller on the five sacred mountains (pañchādrivāsa), O elder brother born together with Gaṇēśa (sahajā), O commander of the divine army (surasainyanātha), O Guha who loves the five nectars (pañchāmṛtapriya), O all-pervading inner dweller (sakalādhivāsa), O son of Śiva who wears the Gaṅgā and moon as his crown (gaṅgēndu mauḻi tanaya) — O Śrī Kārtikeya, give me the support of your hand!
॥ ३ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 3
आपद्विनाशक कुमारक चारुमूर्ते
तापत्रयान्तक दायापर तारकारे ।
आर्ताऽभयप्रद गुणत्रय भव्यराशे
श्रीकार्तिकेय मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 3
āpadvināśaka kumāraka chārumūrtē
tāpatrayāntaka dāyāpara tārakārē ।
ārtā'bhayaprada guṇatraya bhavyarāśē
śrīkārtikēya mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥ 3
O destroyer of calamities (āpadvināśaka), O youthful Kumāra of beautiful form (kumāraka chārumūrtē), O ender of the three kinds of suffering (tāpatrayāntaka), O ocean of compassion (dāyāpara), O enemy and slayer of Tāraka (tārakārē), O granter of refuge and fearlessness to the distressed (ārtā'bhayaprada), O transcendent beyond the three guṇas (guṇatrayatīta) — O Śrī Kārtikeya, give me the support of your hand!
॥ ४ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 4
वल्लीपते सुकृतदायक पुण्यमूर्ते
स्वर्लोकनाथ परिसेवित शम्भु सूनो ।
त्रैलोक्यनायक षडानन भूतपाद
श्रीकार्तिकेय मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 4
vallīpatē sukṛtadāyaka puṇyamūrtē
svarlōkanātha parisēvita śambhu sūnō ।
trailōkyanāyaka ṣaḍānana bhūtapāda
śrīkārtikēya mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥ 4
O lord of Vaḷḷī (vallīpate), O granter of the fruits of good deeds (sukṛtadāyaka), O sacred form (puṇyamūrtē), O lord of the heavens served by all (svarlōkanātha parisēvita), O son of Śambhu (śambhu sūno), O ruler of all three worlds (trailōkyanāyaka), O six-faced lord (ṣaḍānana) — O Śrī Kārtikeya, give me the support of your hand!
॥ ५ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 5
ज्ञानस्वरूप सकलात्मक वेदवेद्य
ज्ञानप्रियाऽखिलदुरन्त महावनघ्ने ।
दीनवनप्रिय निरमय दानसिन्धो
श्रीकार्तिकेय मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 5
jñānasvarūpa sakalātmaka vēdavēdya
jñānapriyā'khiladuranta mahāvanaghnē ।
dīnavanapriya niramaya dānasindhō
śrīkārtikēya mama dēhi karāvalambam ॥ 5
O embodiment of divine wisdom (jñānasvarūpa), O all-pervading self of all beings (sakalātmaka), O known through the Vedas (vēdavēdya), O lover of wisdom (jñānapriya), O destroyer of the great thick forests of all calamities (ākhiladuranta mahāvanaghnē), O protector of the humble (dīnavanapriya), O formless one (nirañjana) — O Śrī Kārtikeya, give me the support of your hand!
॥ ६ ॥♪ CHANTING NOW
Verse 6
इति श्री कार्तिकेय करावलम्ब स्तोत्रम् ।
iti śrī kārtikēya karāvalamba stōtram ।
Thus ends the Śrī Kārtikeya Karāvalamba Stotram.
ॐ
